The construction industry has spent years talking about collaboration, early engagement, and better risk management. Choosing the wrong procurement route, or choosing the right one too late, can be enough to sink a construction project before it starts. If the industry is serious about improving productivity and project outcomes, procurement must move beyond the traditional mindset of risk transfer and lowest-cost selection. Understanding risk, not transferring itThe construction industry has long recognised the benefits of early contractor involvement, which is why two-stage procurement remains the preferred route for many complex projects. The route chosen influences collaboration, risk allocation, programme certainty, cost predictability and, ultimately, whether a project succeeds.